The history of Tanzania is filled with stories of struggle and triumph, victory and peace. Below is a brief overview of Tanzania’s history, from the beginning of human settlement and Tribal Habitation to the beginnings of trade and merchant states along the Swahili Coast. Also included is the arrival of colonialism and the advent of independence. The historical overview concludes with political details about the Tanzania of today.
Getting to Tanzania
These days there are many ways to travel to Tanzania. Overland railways connect the country, the roads are easy to navigate and well-maintained, cruise ships and passenger liners stop frequently at the ports, and international air carriers arrive and depart daily from the many airports located around the country. Travel to Tanzania is easier and more convenient than it has ever been before. World-class airport facilities and on-the-ground assistance make sure that your visit to the country is perfect from the first moment of arrival.
Whether you’re travelling independently or with a tour operator, be sure to book your ticket well in advance and make sure your return flights are confirmed. Travel agents in major cities can assist you in making any last-minute changes to your itinerary and flights.
Flying to Tanzania
There are frequent direct and indirect flights to Tanzania by numerous international airlines. Air Tanzania, the national carrier, is presently not operating, so currently the principle Tanzanian airline is Precision Air (PRF) (www.precisionairtz.com). The national airline of Kenya, Kenya Airways (KQ) (www.kenya-airways.com), Qatar Airways (), etc serves Tanzania. Airline fare prices to Tanzania stay pretty consistent around the year.
Flight times:
From London to Dar es Salaam is 10 hours. There are no direct flights from the US and most travellers go via Europe.
Departure tax:
The international departure tax is US$50 but this is included in the price of an airline ticket.
Location
Tanzania is located in East Africa between longitude, 29 degrees and 41 degrees east and latitude 1 degree and 12 degrees south. Tanzania borders Kenya to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to the south, and is the largest country in East Africa (943,000 sq km), comprising both the mainland and the Zanzibar Archipelago.
A large central plateau makes up most of the mainland (at between 900m and 1800m) and the mountain ranges of the Eastern Arc and the Southern and Northern Highlands cut across the country to form part of the Great Rift Valley.
A land of geographical extremes, Tanzania has the highest peak – Mount Kilimanjaro, the lowest point – the lakebed of Lake Tanganyika, and the largest lake – Lake Victoria, on the continent.
